No. 14 Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0 SEC) is set to face off against Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3) on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. ET, live on the SEC Network.
The oddsmakers favor Texas A&M by 14.5 points in this matchup, and historically, Mississippi State holds a slight edge in the series with a record of 9-8.
The stakes are high for both teams in this contest. Texas A&M is coming back from a well-timed bye week after delivering an impressive 41-10 victory against then-No. 9 Missouri, looking to maintain their momentum and secure their sixth straight win.
Conversely, Mississippi State is desperate for a turnaround as they aim to end a five-game losing streak, pursuing their first conference victory of the season. Though they recently fell to No. 5 Georgia with a score of 41-31, the Bulldogs made headlines by being the first team to score over 30 points in Athens since Tennessee in 2016.
A crucial element of this game will hinge on the Aggies’ formidable rushing attack. Texas A&M boasts the SEC’s second-best rushing offense, averaging 232.3 yards per game, which ranks them ninth nationally.
They showcase a stellar average of 5.6 yards per carry and posted an impressive 6.6 yards per attempt against Missouri. Surprisingly, only Notre Dame and Arkansas have managed to limit the Aggies to under 150 rushing yards. This situation presents a daunting challenge for Mississippi State, whose run defense is struggling, allowing nearly 202 yards per game—the worst in the SEC. To have a shot at victory, the Bulldogs will need to significantly improve their run defense and disrupt Texas A&M’s balanced offensive strategy.
There are key players to keep an eye on during this matchup. For Texas A&M, running back Le’Veon Moss has been stellar, averaging 121.7 yards per game and 8.5 yards per carry in SEC play.
His performance ranks him first among conference rushers, and he has recorded three of the SEC’s ten best rushing performances so far. Overall, he averages 101.5 yards per game and has scored three touchdowns following a 138-yard showing against Missouri.
On the Mississippi State side, safety Isaac Smith has emerged as a standout with 56 total tackles this season, averaging 11.2 per game. Despite sitting out the Texas matchup due to injury after a game against Florida, he remains the SEC’s leading tackler and ranks among the top in the nation for tackles per game. Smith’s consistency is impressive, as he has led the team in tackles for four consecutive games since Jett Johnson did it in September 2023.
In terms of additional game insights, both Texas A&M and Mississippi State are being led by first-year head coaches, Mike Elko and Jeff Lebby, respectively.
The Aggies have surrendered only seven sacks this season, sharing third place in the SEC for their offensive line’s effectiveness. Quarterback Conner Weigman recently delivered a standout performance against Missouri, completing 18 of 22 passes for a personal season-high of 276 yards.
Meanwhile, Mississippi State’s ability to score has been less than optimal, averaging 24 points per game in SEC play, positioning them eighth in the conference. Notably, they have forced six fumbles this season, recovering four of them, showcasing a slight increase in defensive pressure compared to their previous year’s statistics.